Use unit for bank note processing machines

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing bank notes, in particular for singling, counting, sorting and testing the authenticity of bank notes or papers of value.

For bank note processing machines and money counting machines it is known to use a display and a keyboard input unit for inputting commands and selecting certain processing operations and for progress displays or help displays.

An improvement with respect to operator friendliness is obtained with an input device and display device according to the international application WO 99/09511. This laid-open print states a bank note processing machine for recognizing, testing and/or counting bank notes. Said bank note processing machine contains a touch-sensitive screen constructed from a matrix of optically transparent switch elements which is disposed over the display unit. The selection elements are indicated by the display so that the operator can make a corresponding selection by pressing on the transparent switch elements. The display is simultaneously used for displaying status information or for help information. A thus constructed operator prompting is very flexible in application since it can easily be adapted to given or changing requirements. Despite the easy adaptability of the operator prompting with the touch-sensitive display as known from WO 99/09511, it has the disadvantage that the operator is still prompted by means of text. For international application, the machines must thus be adapted to the particular national language. No simple and intuitive operator prompting is possible.

SUMMARY

It is therefore the problem of the invention to state a bank note processing machine whose operator prompting is readily understandable and intuitively learnable.

According to the invention it is provided that the display unit displays variable functions by symbols (icons), whereby the individual, selectable functions can be selected by input means.

This has the advantage that the operator prompting is very easy to grasp visually, i.e. the operator can see at first glance by the symbols (icons, etc.) or image sequences representing a course of procedure or help function sequence the functions behind them. A corresponding function selection can be made intuitively without requiring any lengthy training phase for the operator. Skillful design or selection of the symbols makes the individual functions self-explanatory without any further written elucidation. It is thus largely unnecessary to adapt the operator prompting to the particular national language.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the operator interface is divided into two areas. The first area contains a function menu designed for selecting general commands, while the second part contains an operator menu for making the command selection for the bank note processing apparatus.

Dividing the operator interface into a function menu and an operator menu further simplifies the operation of the bank note processing machine since the input possibilities are separated in accordance with their function.

It has proved advantageous to use the display unit for displaying the operator menu, while the function menu is realized completely or partly by separate input means (keyboard, mouse, etc.). A keyboard layout and/or the possible activations of keys can be displayed on the display unit.

Said separation advantageously permits the area of the display device containing the function menu to also be of touch-sensitive design. In this case, the symbols from the operator menu area can be selected by means of the touch-sensitive elements from the function menu. The selected symbols from the operator menu are advantageously displayed inversely. The input unit is realized by a transparent switch matrix disposed over the display unit. The transparent switch matrix can also extend over the total area of the display unit so that inputs relating to the operator menu can be made directly by pressing on a transparent switch element disposed over the displayed symbol.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention results by disposing a fingerprint sensor in the touch-sensitive display device. This assembly ensures in simple fashion that only authorized persons are permitted to operate the bank note processing apparatus. The fingerprint is used for an authentication test, i.e. the determined fingerprint is compared with the fingerprints of authorized persons contained in a memory of the bank note processing apparatus. If a determined fingerprint matches a stored one, operation of the bank note processing machine is permitted, otherwise the functions cannot be executed or only in part.

In addition to simplifying the operator prompting by symbolic display of processing operations or functions, simple operator prompting can also be obtained if the bank note processing machine contains an acoustic input and output device permitting both function or operator commands to be entered by voice input and status or error messages to be indicated by voice output. This embodiment does again require country-specific adaptation of the machines, but it provides simple and readily understandable operator prompting.

The inventive method provides that functions and operator commands are selected either by keys whose functions and possible activations are displayed on the display panel, or by pressing on transparent switch elements, the functions or commands being displayed by symbols on a display unit located under the transparent switch elements. Advantageous embodiments of the method result from the dependent claims.

In particular, the recording of the fingerprint can also be used for effecting operator-unique defaults. The recorded fingerprint is associated with one operator. From this association, user-unique defaults can be loaded which are made available as the initial menu. Said defaults can of course be changed for further operation. Similarly, the fingerprint can also be used to enable a limited function selection so that not all functions of the bank note processing machine are enabled for all users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 to 3</figref>, in which:

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a block diagram of the inventive apparatus,

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows a touch-sensitive display device of the invention, and

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a touch-sensitive display device with an activated function.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows a help function sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows in simplified form a block diagram of an inventive bank note processing machine, indicating only the elements relevant to the invention.

Display device <b>2</b> having operating unit <b>21</b> associated therewith is connected with central control unit <b>1</b>, normally the CPU (central processing unit) of the bank note processing machine.

The central control unit is further connected with ROM <b>5</b> and nonvolatile memory <b>4</b> as well as drive elements <b>3</b> for driving the individual function units of the bank note processing machine.

Nonvolatile memory <b>4</b> stores not only the usual program data but also the symbols to be displayed on the display device.

Display/operator module <b>2</b>, <b>21</b> may consist of a display unit suitable for displaying symbols and an operating unit, whereby operating unit <b>21</b> may be a keyboard, a transparent switch matrix superimposed on display device <b>2</b>, or the like.

Alternatively or additionally, the inventive apparatus may also contain acoustic voice input/output unit <b>6</b> for inputting operator commands or menu selection commands by means of a microphone. Error messages or status messages may accordingly be transmitted to the operator by voice output.

A combined visual and acoustic operator prompting can provide that at least simple function commands, for example cursor movements, are effected by means of voice input, while the other commands are inputted by the touch-sensitive switch elements on the display unit or accordingly associated separate keys.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows, without limiting the generality, an example of the screen structure of touch-sensitive display device <b>10</b>. The display device consists substantially of a known display device with a transparent switch matrix superimposed thereon. The switch matrix is divided into different segments having certain functions associated therewith by association by means of the display unit. The association is effected by the central control unit in connection with the data stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Touch-sensitive display device <b>10</b> is preferably divided into function menu <b>12</b> and operator menu <b>11</b>. Function menu <b>12</b> contains general functions serving to drive the bank note processing machine, such as starting a selected function with key <b>122</b> or stopping it with key <b>121</b>. Further, the function menu contains keys for controlling the operator menu, such as cursor keys <b>123</b> to <b>126</b>, enter key <b>127</b> for selecting a menu level of the operator menu, or selection key <b>128</b> for selecting a function of the operator menu. Further, correction key <b>129</b> is provided in the shown example.

Besides function menu <b>12</b>, the touch-sensitive display device according to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> contains operator menu <b>11</b>. Just as in function menu <b>12</b>, the individual menu items are displayed in the operator menu by language-independent symbols. For example, at <b>14</b> one can see the symbol for face sorting. In this sort mode, the bank notes are sorted according to the direction of a picture or writing disposed thereon.

Further, the menu displays position sorting symbol <b>13</b>. In this sort mode, the position of a first singled bank note is used as a reference position. The position of the next bank note that does not match the reference position of the first bank note is used as a second reference position. In the bank note sorter the bank notes are then deposited in the different singling pockets in accordance with their various positions.

A further sort mode is given by denomination separation, which is marked by symbol <b>15</b> in the menu. This sort mode also makes use of first and second reference bank notes. The denomination of the first singled bank note serves as the first reference denomination, while the denomination of the next bank note that does not match the reference denomination of the first bank note is used as the second reference denomination.

Symbol <b>18</b> represents the selection of the count mode. Solely the number of singled bills is counted here without heeding any other criteria, for example position or denomination. The stackers contained in the bank note processing machine work in tandem operation, for example in the case of two stackers. When the count mode symbol is selected, a counter field (not shown in the Figure) is displayed therebelow that states the number of counted bank notes.

The operating mode of the bank note processing machine is selected with symbol <b>17</b>. Substantially three operating mode classes are available. The first class is given by the batch mode, which contains the denomination count, reject entry and result report. The second operating mode class is the deposit mode. This mode comprises the denomination count, reject entry, over/short calculation and result report. The third class is formed by the fitness mode, which is strictly a quality sort. The individual operating mode classes thus contain a plurality of individual operating modes that offer different possibilities of configuration. These possibilities of configuration are selected with the aid of the symbol for configuration menu <b>16</b>. Different adjustments can be made here, such as setting the quality threshold values for each denomination, and selecting the authenticity features likewise done for each denomination. Further, the operating modes can be defined in configuration menu <b>16</b> according to position, denomination, quality, stacker configuration, etc. In addition, general adjustments can be made in the configuration menu, such as setting the date/time, the display contrast, etc.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a touch-sensitive display device corresponding substantially to that of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. The differences of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> over <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> result substantially from providing fingerprint sensor <b>130</b>, which is shown on the lower right side of the operator menu. The fingerprint sensor serves to record the fingerprint, which permits the user to call up different functions, on the one hand, or to operate the bank note processing machine at all. Further, the currently usable command keys, in the present case the cursor movement key and selection key, are displayed inversely in the function menu. The currently selected menu item <b>15</b> is underlaid by a border in the operator menu. Said menu item can be selected by selection key <b>127</b>.

If not only function menu <b>12</b> is equipped with transparent, touch-sensitive switch elements, but the complete display device, i.e. also operator menu <b>11</b>, is covered with transparent switch elements, a menu item, for example denomination separation <b>15</b>, can also be selected directly by pressing on the corresponding symbol.

It is likewise possible to associate separate keys with the display panel, their functions being displayed by symbols provided on the keys or their functions being rendered in associated fields of the display unit. In the latter case, the functions of individual keys can also be easily changed and said change made recognizable by accordingly adapting the symbols of the display fields.

<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> finally shows an example of the operator prompting of a help function sequence for eliminating a bank note jam in the bank note processing machine with reference to the first two steps. First, the jam is indicated by symbol <b>140</b>, as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref><i>a, </i>whereby symbol <b>141</b> simultaneously indicates that the operator must first open the outer housing parts. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref><i>b </i>shows the next step whereby the operator is told by symbol <b>142</b> that the jammed bank notes are to be removed. In further steps not shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the operator is instructed by symbolic representations to remedy the cause of the error completely.